Operating mechanism for enclosed circuit breakers or switches



Aug. 26, 1958 A. R. CELLERINI OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ENCLOSED CIRCUITBREAKERS OR SWITCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 31, 1956 INVENTORWITNESSES ATTORNEY Aug. 26, 1958 A. R. CELLERlNl 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed001;. (51, 1956 3 w n 4 r w n fl a y s1 a f 3 y 8 4 m y 5 4 Q8 M P P, 1mw 5 I x J. 5 m m \4 an m 5 lllllll 4 u 7/47 F 2 United States iatentiitiicc Edd-@555 Patented Aug. 26, 1958 OPERATING MECHANISM FORENcLosnn cmcurr nnnAKnns on swrrcr-nss Albert R. Cellcrini, Beaver, Pa.,assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa, 3corpora tion of Pennsylvania My invention relates, generally, tooperating mechanisms for circuit interrupters, such as automatic circuitbreakers and manually operable switches which may be mounted insideenclosing cabinets and having an operating handlemounted on the cover ofthe cabinet.

An object of my invention is to provide an operating mechanism suitablefor utilization with enclosures of different depths.

Another object of my invention is to provide an operating mechanismsuitable for operating circuit interrupters having toggle mechanisms foractuating the movable contact members of the interrupter.

Afurther object of'my invention is to provide a variable depth operatingmechanism for an enclosed circuit interrupter which permits apredetermined amount of misalignment between the operating shaft of themechanism and the external operating handle on the cover of theenclosure.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a self-aligningmechanism having a torsion spring which also functions to resilientlysupport the operating shaft of the mechanism.

A still further object of my invention is to provide for operating anauxiliary switch by the same mechanism which operates the main contactmembers of aswitch.

Other objects of my invention will be explained fully hereinafter orwill be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment of my invention, the operating shaftof a variable dept-h mechanism is threaded into the upper end of asleeve, the lower end of which is rotatably mounted in an opening in thebase of a toggle actuated switch. A torsion spring surrounds the sleeveand has'one end anchored in the'base and the other end anchored to awasher secured tothe sleeve. The spring is held under compressionbetween the washer and ashoulderinthe opening in the base. A roll pinextends through the sleeve below the openingrin the base to retain thesleeve in the base. Thus, the spring cushions the shaft both verticallyand horizontally and permits mis alignment betweenthe upper end ofthe'shaftand the external operating handle on the cover of the enclosureforthe switch. the sleeve, is connected to an operating lover of thetoggle mechanism by a link, thereby operatingthe switch by means of theexternal operating-handle. The torsion spring biases the external handletowards the ?on position, thereby counteracting the weight of the.handle when the switch is mounted in a vertical position.

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference-may behad to-the following detailedwdescription,taken inconjunction withthe, accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in plan, of a portion ofan'electric' switchembodying the principal features :of my invention; Fig. ,2- is areducedview, partly in sectionand, partly in end.elevation showingptheswitch mounted in an enclosure;

An operating .armQwhich is secured to Fig. 3 is a view, in section,taken line HIIII in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing theactuating mechanism for the switch.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 2, the structureshown therein comprises a sheet metal cabinet 6 having a cover '7attached thereto by means of hinges (not shown). In the interest ofsimplicity only a portion of the cabinet 6 is shown in the presentdrawings. An operating handle 8 is rotatably mounted in a hub 9 whichmay be attached to the outside of the cover '7 by means of screws 10inserted into the hub 9 As will be more fully described hereinafter, theexternal handle 8 is utilized for operating a switch 11 mounted insidethe cabinet 6. The handle 8 may be of the type fully described in thecopending application of I. 0. Rexroad, Serial No. 502,465, filed April19, 1955, now Paten No. 2,806,099, issued September 10, 1957.

The switch 11 is preferably of the type described in a copendingapplication of A. R. Cellerini and H. D. Dorfman, Serial No. 619,582,filed October 31, 1956. As shown, the switch structure comprises a base12 in which are disposed the terminal members, the contact members, thearc extinguishers and the actuating mechanism for a three-pole manuallyoperable switch. The base 3.2 is of a unitary structure, and is,preferably, molded from a suitable insulating material. It is providedwith a recess or compartment for the metal parts of each pole of theswitch and a separate compartment for the toggle actuating mechanism. Itis also provided with numerous recesses for the screws and rivets whichare utilized for generally along the attaching the metal parts to thebase.

FT u

As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, each pole of the switch structurecomprises a line terminal assembly which includes a conductor 13, aterminal clamp or collar 14 attached to one end of the conductor 13 forconnecting a line conductor to the conductor 13, and a contact member15' secured to the other end of the conductor 13. The collar 14 isprovided with a threaded screw 16 for connecting a line conductor to theterminal. A contact arm 17 is secured to an insulating shaft l3 by meansof a clamp or bracket 17. A contact member 19 is attached to one end ofthe contact arm 17'. As will be described more fully hereinafter, theshaft 18, which is rotatably mounted in the base 12 and disposedparallel to the base, is rotated by a toggle mechanism to oscillate thecontact arm 17 thereby engaging the contact member 39 with the contactmember 15.

A flexible conductor 21, which has one end attached to the contact arm17 and the contact member 19, has the other end attached to a line sidefuse terminal 22. A fuse clip 23 is removably attached to the terminal22.

A load side fuse terminal or plate 24 is attached to the base 12.Another fuse clip 23 is removably attached to the plate 24. A load sideterminal assembly, which includes a collar 14 and a conductor 25, isconnected to the plate 24. One end of the conductor 25 may be brazed orsoldered to the bottom of the plate 24. The collar 14 is provided with ascrew 16 for connecting a load conductor to the conductor 25. A fuse 26,which may be of the cartridge type, is installed in the fuse clips 23.

As shown in Fig. l, the line side terminal assembly for each pole isdisposed in a recess 27 in the base 12, and the load side terminalassembly for each pole is disposed in a recess 28 in the base 12. An arcextinguisher Z9 and the contact members for each pole are disposed in arecess 31 in the base 12. As explained in the aforesaid copendingapplication of Cellerini and Dorfman, the toggle actuating mechanism isdisposed in a separate recess located between two poles of the switch,thereby i 3 v keeping the actuating mechanism electrically deenergizedat all times.

The toggle mechanism for actuating the contact members of the switch maybe of a type previously utilized in manually operable switches. As shownmost clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the mechanism is supported between a pairof spaced mounting plates 36, only one of which is shown. Each plate 36is provided with an extension 37 which projects through an opening inthe base 12 and may be riveted to secure the plate to the base, as shownat 33 in Fig. 3. The two supporting plates 36 may be secured together byspacing studs 39.

A cradle member 41 is disposed between the plates 36 in a fixedposition. One end of the cradle member t'll is attached to a stud 42which extends between the plates 36 and is attached to the plates. Theother end of the cradle member ill is anchored under one of the spacingstuds 39 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

A toggle link 43 is pivotally connected to the cradle member by a pin44. Another toggle link 45 is pivotally connected to an actuating arm orbracket 46 by means of a pin 47. The toggle links 43 and 45 arepivotally connected together by a toggle pin 4-8. The actuating arm orbracket 46 is secured to the shaft 18 to which the contact arms 17 areattached, as previously explained.

A generally U-shaped operating lever 51, which is inverted, is pivotallymounted in rounded bottoms 52 of V-shaped notches in the mounting plates36. Overcenter toggle springs 53 are connected between the toggle pin4?) and the base of the U-shaped lever 51. As shown in Fig. 4, a link 54is pivotally connected to a bracket 55 which is attached to the base ofthe operating lever 51. The link 54 has an opening 56 therein throughwhich one end of an operating arm 57 extends. The arm 57 is secured to asleeve 58 which is rotatably mounted in an opening 59 in the base 12.The sleeve 53 is rotated to operate the switch mechanism in a mannerwhich will be described more fully hereinafter.

As explained hereinbefore, it is desirable to provide for mountingswitches of the present type in enclosures which may be of diiferentdepths. Also, it is desirable to provide for a certain amount ofmisalignment between the operating shaft for the switch mechanism andthe external operating handle which is mounted on the cover of theenclosure. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, an internally threadedmember 61 is secured to the upper end of the sleeve 58. An operatingshaft 62 is adjustably threaded into the member 61. Thus, the verticalheight of the upper end of the shaft 62 may be adjusted in accordancewith the depth of the enclosure in which the switch is mounted. Theshaft 62 may be retained at the desired height by means of a set screw63 which extends through the member 61 into a groove 64 in the shaft 62.

A generally cone-shaped cap 65 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft:62, and a pin 66 extends through the cap 65 and the shaft 62. As shownin Fig. 2, the cap 65 and the pin 66 are disposed in a recess 67 in thehandle 8 when the cover '7 of the enclosure 6 is closed. Thus,

the shaft 62 and the sleeve 58 may be rotated by means of the handle 8to operate the switch mechanism.

The sleeve 5% is normally disposed substantially per pendicularly to thebase 12. In order to permit misalignment between the upper end of theshaft 62 and the recess in the handle 8 for receiving the upper end ofthe shaft, the lower portion of the opening 59 in the base 12 is flaredoutwardly, as shown at 67 in Fig. 3. The sleeve 58 is resilientlysupported in the opening 59 by a spring 68 which is disposed between awasher 69 secured to the sleeve 53 and a shoulder 71 on the base 12. Aroll pin 72 extends through the lower end of the sleeve 58 and engages awasher 73 disposed between the pin 72 and the base 12. Thus, the sleeve58 is rotatably mounted in the base, and the upper end of the shaft 62is free to ilt 4 move laterally, thereby permitting misalignment betweenthe shaft 62 and the handle 8 on the cover of the enclosure. The spring68 also cushions the shaft 62 to prevent injury to the mechanism in casethe cover is slammed during closing.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 1, the upper portion of the opening 59 inthe base 12 has a straight side 74. This straight side is engaged by thewasher 69 on the sleeve 58 to prevent sagging of the sleeve and theshaft 2 when the switch is mounted vertically with the shaft 62 thendisposed horizontally and the straight side 74 being at the lower sideof the washer 69.

As shown in Fig. 3, one end of the spring 68 is anchored to the base 12in a recess 75 in the base. The other end of the spring 63 extendsthrough an opening 76 in the washer 69. Thus, the spring 68 applies atorsion force to the sleeve 58, thereby counteracting the weight of thehandle 8 when the switch is mounted vertically with the shaft 62disposed horizontally. Therefore, the spring 66 performs a dual functionof resiliently supporting the sleeve 53 in the base and also applying atorsion force to the sleeve.

It is frequently desirable to provide an auxiliary switch or auxiliarycontact members which are operated in conjunction with the main contactmembers of a switch of the present type. The auxiliary contact membersmay be utilized in control or indicating circuits for the main switch.As shown in Figs. 1 and 4 an auxiliary switch '77 is mounted on abracket '73 which is attached to the base 12 by screws 79. The switch 77is disposed in a recess 81 in the base 12. The switch 77 may be of asnap-acting type available on the open market, and the contact membersof the switch are actuated by a plunger 82..

As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, an arm 83 is attached to the actuatingbracket 46 which, as explained hereinbefore, is attached to the shaft18. When the shaft 18 is rotated by means of the toggle mechanism tooscillate the contact arms of the main switch, the arm 83 is oscillatedto engage the plunger 82, thereby operating the contact members of theauxiliary switch 77. Thus, the auxiliary switch is operated inconjunction with the main contact members of the switch.

As previously explained, the auxiliary switch may be connected in anydesired circuit by means of conductors (not shown) which may be readilyconnected to the aux.- iliary switch. In this manner the auxiliaryswitch may be mounted in space available in the base 12 and operatedbyan arm connected to the main shaft 18 which is rotatably mounted inthe base and disposed parallel to the base.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that I have provided amechanism for operating a switch or circuit breaker which is mounted inan enclosure. 1 have provided a simple and cfficient means for adjustingthe height of the operating shaft of the mechanism in accordance withthe depth of the enclosure in which the switch is mounted. I have alsoprovided for resiliently supporting the operating shaft to preventinjury to the mechanism when the cover of the enclosure is slammed andto take care of misalignment between the operating shaft and theexternal operating handle on the cover of the enclosure. I have alsoprovided for mounting and operating an auxiliary switch in conjunctionwith the main contact members of the switch.

Since numerous changes may be made in the abovedescribed construction,and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a multi-pole electric switch, in combination, a unitary insulatingbase having a plurality of recesses therein, main contact members foreach pole disposed in separate recesses in the base, a shaft rotatablymounted parallel to said base for actuating said main contact members,an actuating mechanism disposed in another recess in the base forrotating said shaft, an auxiliary switch disposed in a recess in thebase, and actuating means operated by said shaft in a planeperpendicular to the base for actuating said auxiliary switch.

2. In a multi-pole electric switch, in combination, a unitary insulatingbase having a plurality of recesses therein, main contact members foreach pole disposed in separate recesses in the base, a shaft rotatablymounted parallel to said base for actuating said main contact members,an actuating mechanism disposed in another recess in the base forrotating said shaft, an auxiliary switch disposed in a recess in thebase, and an arm attached to said shaft and movable in a planeperpendicular to the base for actuating the auxiliary switch.

3. In a multi-pole electric switch, in combination, a unitary insulatingbase having a plurality of recesses therein, main contact members foreach pole disposed in separate recesses in the base, a shaft rotatablymounted parallel to said base for actuating said main contact members,an actuating mechanism disposed in a recess between the contact membersfor two of the poles of the switch for rotating said shaft, an auxiliaryswitch disposed between said two poles of the switch, and an armattached to said shaft and movable in a plane perpendicular to the basefor actuating the auxiliary switch.

4. In a circuit interrupter, in combination, an insulating base having aplurality of recesses therein, main contact members disposed in some ofsaid recesses, terminal members disposed in other recesses, an actuatingmechanism disposed in another recess for actuating said main contactmembers to and from a closed position, an auxiliary switch disposed in arecess in said base between said terminal members, and actuating meansoperated by said actuating mechanism for actuating said auxiliaryswitch, said actuating means engaging the auxiliary switch when the maincontactmembers are in the closed position.

5. In a circuit interrupter, in combination, an insulating base having aplurality of recesses therein, main contact members disposed in some ofsaid recesses, terminal members disposed in other recesses, an actuatingmechanism disposed in another recess for actuating said main contactmembers to and from a closed position, an auxiliary switch disposed in arecess in said base between said terminal members, and an arm oscillatedby said actuating mechanism to engage the auxiliary switch to operatethe switch, said arm engaging the auxiliary switch when the main contactmembers are in the closed position.

6. In a multi-pole electric switch, in combination, an

insulating base having a plurality of recesses therein, a shaftrotatably mounted parallel to said base, a contact arm for each poledisposed in a separate recess in the base, said contact arms beingattached to said shaft, an actuating mechanism disposed in anotherrecess in the base for rotating said shaft to oscillate said contactarms, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in an opening in the basesubstantially perpendicularly to the base, an operating arm driven bythe operating shaft to operate the actuating mechanism, and operatingmeans for rotating said operating shaft.

7. In a multi-pole electric switch, in combination, an insulating basehaving a plurality of recesses therein, a shaft rotatably mountedparallel to said base, a contact arm for each pole disposed in aseparate recess in the base, said contact arms being attached to saidshaft, an actuating mechanism disposed in another recess in the base forrotating said shaft to oscillate said contact arms, an operating shaftrotatably mounted in an' opening in the base substantiallyperpendicularly to the base, spring means disposed in said opening forresiliently supporting the operating shaft, an operating arm driven bythe operating shaft and connected to the actuating mechanism to operatethe mechanism, and operating means for rotating said operating shaft.

8. In a multi-pole electric switch, in combination, an insulating basehaving a plurality of recesses therein, a shaft rotatably mountedparallel to said base, a contact arm for each pole disposed in aseparate recess in the base, said contact arms being attached to saidshaft, an actuating mechanism disposed in another recess in the base forrotating said shaft to oscillate said contact arms, an operating shaftrotatably mounted in an opening in the base substantiallyperpendicularly to the base, a spring disposed in said opening toresiliently support the operating shaft and to apply a torsion force tothe shaft, an operating arm driven by the operating shaft and connectedto the actuating mechanism to operate the mechanism, and an operatinghandle for rotating the operating shaft, the torsion force of saidspring counteracting the weight of said handle.

9. In a multi-pole electric switch, in combination, an insulating basehaving a plurality of recesses therein, a

shaft rotatably mounted parallel to said base, a contact arm for eachpole disposed in a separate recess in the base, said contact arms beingattached to said shaft, an actuating mechanism disposed in anotherrecess in the base for rotating said shaft'to oscillate said contactarms, a sleeve disposed substantially perpendicularly to the base andhaving one end rotatably mounted in an opening in the base, a threadedmember secured to the other end of the sleeve, an operating shaftthreaded into said threaded member and adjustably fastened in the sleeveto rotate the sleeve, an operating arm secured to the sleeve andconnected to the actuating mechanism to operate the mechanism, a springsurrounding the sleeve in said opening to resiliently support the sleeveand to apply a torsion force to the sleeve, and an operating handle forrotating the shaft, the torsion force of said spring counteracting theweight of said handle.

10. In a multi-pole electric switch, in combination, an enclosure havingan openable cover, an external operating handle rotatably mounted on thecover, an insulating base mounted inside the enclosure and having aplurality of recesses therein, a shaft rotatably mounted parallel to thebase, a contact arm for each pole disposed in a separate recess in thebase, said contact arms being attached to said shaft, an actuatingmechanism disposed in another recess in the base for rotating said shaftto oscillate said contact arms, an operating shaft rotatably mounted inan opening in the base substantially perpendicularly to the base andengaged by said operating handle when the cover is closed, a springdisposed in said opening to resiliently support the operating shaft andto apply a torsion force to the shaft, an operating arm driven by theoperating shaft to operate the actuating mechanism, said operating shaftbeing adjustable in length for utilization in encl0- sures of differentdepths, said opening being of a larger diameter than said operatingshaft to permit misalignment between the end of the operating shaft andthe external operating handle, and the torsion force of said springcounteracting the Weight of the external operating handle when itengages the operating shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,530,974 Krapf et a1 Nov. 21, 1950 2,550,125 Schueler et al. Apr. 24,1951 2,617,903 Koenig Nov. 11, 1952

